Arsenal 2021/22 summer transfer window grade: A success?

Arsenal’s Summer Transfer Window Departures Graded

All summer supporters were reliably informed by those on the Arsenal journalism beat that any new arrivals would have to be supplemented by player sales.

Apparently not.

Joe Willock was the only permanent sale at £25m. It was fabulous business at the time, and is even better now considering that was the only cash injection all summer barring a handful of loan with options/obligations to buy. Some which may or may not work out.

And this is the overriding gripe from the window: 21 players have left from the first team and academy yet only one came with a permanent transfer fee. There are numerous reasons for this and finding the balance between mitigation and self-inflicted wounds is the troubling part.

Mikel Arteta’s handling of Eddie Nketiah and Lucas Torreira, as two examples, are behind why they were so hard to shift. Then there is Alexandre Lacazette who should have been sold 12 months ago and will now play down the final year of his deal before leaving for free, with his case being a combination of poor strategy and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

In normal circumstances, there would be a market for him.

Other clubs across the Premier League and Europe also failed to sell fringe players. It was a universal issue. Arsenal didn’t, however, help themselves in their leading up to this point and spending £125m net is a huge risk as many of their assets will walk away for free in 12 months time or in some cases have their deals cancelled.

Willian walking away from £20m is truly quite remarkable.

There are other names who shouldn’t be here. Plenty in fact. The balance in the squad is at least better though, but why loan moves weren’t completed for Folarin Balogun, for example, after the striker situation ended up in failure is questionable.

Grade: C-

Continued…